HOUSTON — Gary Woodland and Nicolai Højgaard have pulled clear at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, sitting at 18-under and 17-under, respectively. The nearest challengers are five strokes back, including defending champion Min Woo Lee at 12-under alongside rising star Michael Thorbjornsen.
For Woodland, this marks his first 54-hole lead since capturing the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Højgaard, meanwhile, is chasing his maiden TOUR victory, putting him on the brink of a career milestone.
The chase pack is stacked. Beyond Lee and Thorbjornsen, players at 11- and 10-under include a formidable mix: Jason Day, Sam Stevens, Sahith Theegala, rookie sensation Sudarshan Yellamaraju, and seasoned pro Paul Waring.
Given the sizable gap to the leaders, attention shifts from picking an outright winner to focusing on top-five finishes—particularly in the DraftKings Sportsbook top-five market. Here’s a snapshot of the odds:
Texas Children’s Houston Open Odds (Outright & Top 5)
- Gary Woodland: -104 (Outright), -6000 (Top 5)
- Nicolai Højgaard: +102, -6000
- Min Woo Lee: +2000, -265
- Michael Thorbjornsen: +2800, -198
- Jason Day: +7200, +105
- Sam Stevens: +7800, +108
- Sahith Theegala: +18500, +205
- Sudarshan Yellamaraju: +27500, +265
- Adam Scott: +45000, +360
- Paul Waring: +75000, +560
- Chris Gotterup: +77500, +520
- John Keefer: +95000, +610
- Stephan Jaeger: +190000, +900
While an outright gamble on anyone behind Woodland and Højgaard has appeal—Lee at 20-1 is tempting—the top-five market is particularly intriguing, with two players standing out:
Chris Gotterup, Top 5 (+520)
After a disappointing week at THE PLAYERS Championship, Gotterup said he “couldn’t wait to get to Houston,” anticipating the open fairways at Memorial Park Golf Course. Following rounds of 68 and 69, he exploded on Saturday with a 65, climbing into a tie for 12th. His performance highlighted his strengths off the tee, ranking third in Strokes Gained: Off The Tee.
Gotterup has shown he can move up quickly on the leaderboard, reminiscent of his final-round 64 at the WM Phoenix Open that vaulted him into a playoff. At 5-1, he’s a strong candidate for a top-five finish, backed by two wins already this year and elite driving numbers.
Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Top 5 (+265)
The rookie has captured attention with his self-taught journey from India via Canada, earning media buzz after a top-five finish at THE PLAYERS. Now in Houston, Yellamaraju is continuing his strong form, posting 9-under over his last 36 holes and gaining strokes across all key metrics.
Having proven he can handle the pressure at TPC Sawgrass, Yellamaraju looks poised for another standout Sunday. If you missed his breakout at Sawgrass, this may be your last chance to jump on the hype train, with a top-five finish well within reach.
